Memorial Day

When I was younger, I remember going with my family up to Henefer to decorate the graves of my great grandparents.  I never knew them, although I was blessed to know all of my grandparents and my great grandparents on my father's mother's side (hope that makes sense).  Anyways, as I was out walking today it was nice to have time to reminisce about those that have gone before.  It used to seem like it took all day to go from Henefer to Ogden to Brigham City and then back home.  But now I know it was really family time - a time for stories and remembering and I'm grateful I had it with my family.  I miss it and wish I had done it more with our own family. 

My grandmother on my mom's side was raised by her grandparents, because her mother died shortly after she was born.  They lived in a small community and the doctor got drunk once he had delivered my grandmother and hadn't taken great care with my great grandmother and she passed away due to this.  So my grandmother was raised with her aunts as siblings.  They had a hard life, but a wonderful life.  She would always tell us stories about the farm where she grew up and how she had her grandfather wrapped around her finger.  He dearly loved her.  She always brought these people I had never known to life and I will always be grateful to her for that.  She had a talent for sewing.  She would even make her own patterns.  I felt growning up that she could make anything and she was always happy to do it. 

My grandfather died of cancer when I was 10-years old.  He was a funny guy, but I don't remember much about him.  One thing I do remember was that he always walked with a sort of a waddle, because his little toe had been broken and never fixed right.  He also used to love to watch the world series and he'd bet us a nickle on who would win.  I was very young at the time, but this was something fun he did.  He also used to have rum flavored lifesavers for us to eat.

On my father's side, I knew my grandparents, but not nearly as well as I wished I had.  I remember my grandmother used to pop her popcorn in a iron frying pan on her stove.  Her house either smelled of perking coffee (in the mornings) or late in the afternoons of burnt popcorn.  She however could grow anything.  In her old farm kitchen (which was huge) she had a lemon tree and a banana tree.  I actually saw a lemon on the tree once, but never the bananas.  For Utah, that's quite the feat!  Her flower gardens were beautiful and very large.  Each Spring she would order new bulbs for the Fall to plant.  She had so many flowers.  I would love to have had that talent - my sister got it. I usually kill plants.  She also loved to read.  I remember her having books on shelves in her familyroom, lots of books.  (Maybe this is where I got my love of reading).  This grandmother took care of my great grandparents (her parents) and so I was able to get to know them.  They were small, frail people when I knew them, but they were wonderful and we felt loved by them.

My grandfather had a prosthetic leg due to phlebitis.  He lost his leg when my father was in high school and so the kids pitched in and helped keep the farm up and running until he got back on his feet.  He was a really hardworker and he taught my dad the same work ethic that my father taught us kids.  He lived with my parents for a year before he died, so we got to spend a little more time with him.  He was a kindly man with deep red hair and freckles.

I love thinking back on my past and those I have known that are now gone.  What a legacy they've given us. I hope that my children and grandchildren feel the same some day about me and the things I've tried to teach them. I love Memorial Day and the chance it gives us to reflect on our beginnings and those who have helped shape our lives.  I have been very blessed.